As mentioned in the first part of this in-depth interview, Ara delved into a lot of nuances when answering the questions. But then again, that’s what made things interesting. I just couldn’t bear leaving anything out and I suggested that we split the entire thing into two parts. Luckily for me, Ara agreed. And without further adieu, here’s part 2 of getting candid with Ara Yeramian!
 

Q8. If you could send a voice memo to your 2019 self, what would you say?

A: I do keep voice monologues since 2018 whenever I have a thought about something that I go back to and turn into a writing or a small investigation project. I would advise my 2019 self that sometimes, just sometimes, and some rare few things are better accepted the way they are, even if the end undesired outcome is highly probable in my views.

Q9. What annoys you most about Armenia, but you also strangely love it? We all have one!

A: I’ve been in a constant “love-hate” relationship with Armenia over various aspects. Everyone has it, but a rare few admit it. It is not a “once size fits all” situation. I don’t have a specific answer to this question; anything that annoys me about Armenia, I don’t like it and try to figure out why it annoys me and what can I do about it, since mostly I am not the only one getting annoyed by it. Similarly, if I love something about Armenia, I love it. Period.
 

Perhaps there is something about Armenia that I get annoyed by and strangely love, I just can’t think of one right now (or I yet have to discover it).

Q10. You often speak openly about issues you see in Armenia and I’ve noticed that some people interpret that as negativity. What motivates you to voice these concerns?

A: I am an engineer, a scientist, a researcher, a puzzle solver, a gamer. To me, Armenia is an intertwined set of puzzles and problems to solve, which I attempt as a “serious hobby” if there is such an expression. My motivation is that proposing rational solutions and solving puzzles gives me joy and inner satisfaction, with the end goal of improving our immediate surroundings for ourselves and the next generation.
 

We all deserve to live in an environment where air is clean, water and food are reliable and secure for consumption, a city where citizens, pedestrians, and cyclists have as much priority and rights as cars and restaurants/cafes (looking at you, Yerevan!), where medical centers and healthcare is realistically reliable and trustworthy, of quality, where education is family oriented, of quality, and focuses on building good responsible adults, the least to say. The lack of these, and more, is the underlying reason why the majority of capable locals in Armenia have been building “safety nets” abroad: purchasing real estates in other countries, obtaining foreign nationalities, sending their children abroad to continue their education, etc..
 

All of these are absolutely understandable; everyone tries to secure what is best for their family. My issue here is when the same people evangelise Armenia as a “fantastic country to live in” and blame others who don’t, while the same reasons that drove them out of the country or forced them to build safety nets still persist. It’s these kinds of contradictions that I do not tolerate.
 

As a sentimental realist, depending on the situation and issue in hand (as previously mentioned), I speak about aspects of Armenia the way they are, not the way I wish them to be, while proposing rational potential solutions for improvement. Since Armenia’s reality for a very long time has been bleak, and since my writings are mostly based on objective reality observations with a pinch of sentimentalism, these writings get perceived as seemingly negative ones by others. This, despite the fact that I associate most such writings of mine with true hope through practical proposals of issues we face (not through wishful thinking).
 

Also, I truly do not care about others’ thoughts about me as an individual. Why? Because these are their thoughts, not mine (even though they are about me). This view might sound strange, even though I’ve been this way for 20 years. Yet, this doesn’t mean impoliteness, rudeness, nor not being diplomatic in one’s approach. Quite the opposite.

Q11. How do you balance loving Armenia deeply while also calling out things that need improvement?

A: In addition to my previous answer to Q10, which largely answers this question too, I need to explicitly state this: Calling out things that need improvement in Armenia is not an act of hatred, in contrast to the deep feeling of love of the country. When a parent is mad at their kid or yells at them, it doesn’t mean that they hate them. Quite the opposite. Every parent assists their kids to become good adults, better than they are. Every parent wishes that for their kids (or should). It is an act out of love, not hatred.
 

There is one trick to balance these two contradicting feelings about Armenia: get connected with your personal version of Armenia (everyone has his/her own version of it). How do you find your personal version of Armenia? Everyone has his own approach. For me, it is through most places outside Yerevan, trekking through rural areas speaking to local villagers about their thoughts, their pasts, their fears, their joys, their plans, climbing mountains (14 so far in Armenia), capture the country and its people through my camera and drone (you’re most welcome to view my public IG account), be part of their daily life beyond any touristic attraction.

Q12. What’s the biggest misconception people have about your posts or comments?

A: That my posts are out of hatred for Armenia (despite me willingly relocating here), that I only see the negative aspects of things, that I only criticise.
 

A problem solver, a researcher, tends to first notice the parts that do not function to make sure the whole proposed solution properly functions eventually. This lifetime view is one of the natural outcomes of a Ph.D. holder in natural sciences, of a true engineer and a scientist. Additionally, those who know me well or those who’ve been following my writings for a long time know that I almost always propose a potential solution along with my constructive criticism.
 

Also, most people in Armenia tend to automatically take a defensive stance on a view that does not align with their own, even if that view is not an offensive one, regardless of how well it is formulated and written. Most people fall into what is called Confirmation Bias; the tendency of selecting news/writings/views that align with their own.

Q13. Do you feel that Armenians, both here and in the diaspora, sometimes confuse criticism with negativity?

A: Absolutely. I think this trend of confusion comes from a long, generational thought school of “it is what it is, we have what we have, we need to love it unconditionally”. This approach has been proven broken a long time ago, but most Armenians (both in Armenia and diaspora) tend to continue it, even if unconsciously as a tradition. Critical thinking and criticism are a form of true art, the majority of Armenians claim they are aware of its intricacies but end up being utterly wrong about it.
 

There is constructive criticism that is also severely lacking in Armenia. If you noticed, the common misconception in Armenia is that a discussion is over only when both sides have the same stance (because everyone considers themselves part of the solution, but not the problem). This is why the majority of discussions in Armenia either go endless, end up with a fight, or end up with no conclusions and the whole thing becomes a big waste of everyone’s time and energy. Critical thinking, art of discussion and debate require a specific level of flexibility that many in Armenia, unfortunately, don’t seem to possess.

Q14. What do you want younger Armenians or future repats to understand about being engaged in the country’s development?

A: I’d like to rephrase the question as “...younger Armenians and future repats...”.
 

I would like them to understand few crucial points about being engaged in the country’s development:

• You cannot change or improve everything.
• Be selective in where you want to make the most impact and how, and stubbornly stick to it.
• It takes a long time and a lot of patience to see the true outcome and impact of your engagement.
• Sometimes, you just have to accept things the way they are.
• Don’t try to change people or their mindset. Instead, showcase your views and thoughts. The rest is up to the other person; if they want to pick up anything you mentioned, they will.
• Express opinions, thoughts, views, and offer assistance only when asked. Otherwise, your good intention is perceived differently.
• Enjoy what you can, what you have, as long as you can, for you don’t know how long it’ll be there.
• There is no “right time” to engage with Armenia. Every time is the right time.
• If you’ve been thinking about relocating to Armenia but are caught in internal struggle and thoughts, the answer is “yes”. Read my full article about it.
• If you do decide to relocate, live in Armenia for at least 6 months (better make it at least 1 year).
• Armenia is not Yerevan-Garni-Sevan-Dilijan. It’s far wider and deeper than that.
• Go to the south, to Syunik and Vayots Dzor, before anywhere else outside Yerevan.
• Don’t get too drawn into all the buzz and excitement out there about Armenia, so you don’t get a “cultural shock”, a “slap in the face”, disappointment. There is a lot of sugar-coated propaganda about the country and culture. The age-old advice weighs gold here: no expectations, no disappointment.
• Critical thinking is your best friend in Armenia. Believe half what you hear, question the other half.
• Don’t take things personally.
• Don’t take things too seriously.
• Engage with nature and local villagers outside Yerevan.
• Have fun.